"A tsunami of opposition to the establishment has travelled the world." This description was used by a BBC presenter after the referendum result in Italy on 4 December that forced out their prime minister, Renzi.

The decision of the High Court that the government must allow Parliament a say in the issue of Brexit is a bombshell with wide, and perhaps even unforeseen, effects. It could lead to a general election next year which in turn will widen even further the endemic splits within the Tory Party. As shown by the resignation of Tory MP Stephen Phillips over the government's handling of Brexit and of Zac Goldsmith over the third runway at Heathrow, these splits are already of Grand Canyon proportions!

Jeremy Corbyn appears to be on course to be re-elected as Labour leader. But the bitter right-wing struggle against him shows there can be no compromise with the representatives of capitalism in Labour.

Workers in the UK have suffered the biggest fall in real wages among advanced capitalist countries, according to new analysis published by the Trade Union Congress (TUC). Meanwhile, bosses are cutting more jobs.

Featured letter - EU referendum: Last summer my mum was on holiday on a Greek island and had the misfortune to be bitten by a poisonous snake. The doctors she spoke to hadn't been paid in six weeks. Patients relied on friends and family to wash, change and toilet them, as well as bring them water.